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FAQ’s for students living in undergraduate on-campus housing

We appreciate your patience and understanding as the university navigates these challenging and unprecedented times caused by the spread of COVID-19 (coronavirus). This FAQ will help provide the information you need under these new circumstances and will be updated regularly.

COVID-19 Testing Process

• Do I need to get a COVID-19 test to live in the on-campus residence halls?
  
  • The university has determined that living in on-campus residence halls is conditional on receiving an on-campus COVID-19 test at the start of the spring 2021 semester. In order to maximize campus safety, the university will provide on campus testing for residents to ensure testing consistency, as well as expedite contact tracing, and associated isolation and quarantine policies consistent with best practices.
• When and how do I get tested?
  
  • The university is expecting you to test on campus for COVID-19 within 96 hours (four days) of arriving at the residence hall. You will be given an info sheet in your residence hall mailbox with the testing schedule and sites listed on one side and your patient health information release on the back. This sheet will serve as your ticket to testing. No appointment is required.
• Are there testing exemptions available?
  
  • Exemptions will be available for those students who have evidence of a positive test within 90 days and for those who may have other issues or concerns. To request an exemption, please complete this form. If your reason for exemption is that you have evidence of a positive test within 90 days, you will be asked to upload a copy of your test results. All exemption requests should be received by January 15 and will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis by a health advisory committee.
• What is the follow up for residents who have not completed the testing requirement?
  
  • UHD will contact residents who have not completed the requirement to be able to assist them if they've been having difficulty in getting tested. We want to make sure we're able to help students through any barriers they may have.
  • Student Emergency Services will work with residents who neither get a COVID-19 test nor request an exemption, to identify alternative housing. The 2020-2021 contract includes an amendment to the Terms and Conditions that states: I understand that because of changing circumstances related to COVID-19, changes to policies and practices may be required during the contract period, with which I will be required to comply.
• What if I test positive when I arrive?
  
  • Residents who test positive will be connected with UHD staff and Student Emergency Services to coordinate a safe place to isolate. Residents will be provided the option to isolate at no cost at a local hotel being utilized by the City of Austin for isolation accommodations and can return to the halls after the isolation period is over. Residents may also decide to return home or a place of their choosing where they can safely isolate from others.
  • If residents who test positive need to get items from their room, UHD will work with them to arrange getting those items.
• What if my roommate tests positive for COVID-19 after we have both moved in?
  
  • If your roommate tests positive, you will be required to self-quarantine for a full 7 days following the exposure if you have no symptoms and with a negative test result occurring on day 6 or later following the last time you were with your roommate. Alternatively, you can self-quarantine for 10 days after the last exposure as with no symptoms and without testing. In both cases, continue to monitor for symptoms for 14 days after last exposure. Self-quarantine means to stay home and limit interactions with others, self-monitor to check for fever or symptoms. How to self-quarantine (pdf). You may self-quarantine in the residence hall.
• Do I need to schedule a date and time for arriving at the residence halls?
  
  • To accommodate social distancing guidelines when arriving at the residence halls, you are required to sign up for an arrival time. Please schedule your date and time in the housing portal by January 14. Available arrival dates are January 15-31.
• Is there additional guidance prior to returning to campus?
  
  • To avoid having to leave the hall to isolate if you test positive after moving in, we ask that, to the extent possible, you test for COVID-19 before arriving on campus. That way, if you are positive, you can complete the isolation period at home prior to returning. It is best if this is done between three and five days before you arrive on campus, to most accurately predict your status, ensure you receive your test results, and avoid isolation after your arrival, should you test positive. If your pre-return test is positive, we ask that you please consult with your provider and contact housing@austin.utexas.edu to coordinate your updated expected arrival date and time. We expect there will be individuals with a negative home test and a positive campus test due to the potentially greater accuracy of our tests and the possibility of receiving the first test during a pre-symptomatic period.
  • Even if you test for COVID-19 before arriving on campus, living in the on-campus residence halls is conditional on receiving an on-campus COVID-19 test at the start of the spring 2021 semester.
• Who does the testing requirement apply to?
  
  • This testing requirement only applies to the university’s 14 on-campus residence halls. University Apartments and 2400 Nueces residents are not required to get tested.
  • Those dropping students off at the residence halls do not need to receive an on-campus COVID-19 test.

Housing Contracts

• Can I cancel my housing contract if I choose a remote only schedule without paying the cancellation fee?
  
  • If a student chooses a remote only schedule, we will waive the cancellation fee. Students may be asked to provide their class schedule to verify their remote only schedule.
  • If a student wishes to cancel their contract, or has questions regarding this matter, they are asked to contact our office at housing@austin.utexas.edu, or request to speak with someone by calling (512) 471-3136.
• Am I able to cancel my housing contract for COVID-19 related reasons?
  
  • All cancellation requests require approval from our housing office. Cancellation fees may apply. If a student wishes to cancel their contract, they are asked to contact our office at housing@austin.utexas.edu, or request to speak with someone by calling (512) 471-3136.
• If I want to change rooms, are there still spaces available?
  
  • There will be a room change request form available for students on January 15. Students will have access to the room change request form through their portals. We will work through requests in the order they’re received.
• Can I still apply for housing?
  
  • Students who have accepted enrollment to the university are eligible to apply for on-campus housing. The application fee is $50. Applying does not guarantee that a student will be offered a housing contract.
• What will happen to my housing contract if the university closes again like it did in March 2020?
  
  • If we have to cancel housing contracts due to University guidelines, we will issue a pro-rated credit to your account.
• Are accommodations available if it is medically necessary for me to have a single occupancy room?
  
  • If a student has a medical or disability-related need that impacts where they will live, they need to indicate the type of accommodation they require in the space provided on their housing application. Students need to submit a request and documentation to Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD). They will review the documentation provided and forward our office the recommendations regarding housing accommodations. All documentation will be kept confidential within the SSD office. Please refer to the housing and dining accommodations page for the complete accommodation request process.
• What is the best way for me to get a question answered about my housing contract?
  
  • For questions regarding housing, please contact our office as soon as possible. For quicker responses, email us at housing@austin.utexas.edu, or request to speak with a housing representative by calling (512) 471-3136.
  • The housing office is temporarily closed to in-person visits until further notice.

Safety Protocols

• What is the notification process for COVID-19 positive tests in the residence halls?
  
  • The process begins when (1) a student tests positive at University Health Services (UHS) or UT Health Austin, (2) Austin Public Health notifies the UT Austin Contact Tracing Team about a student with a positive test result who was tested off-campus, or (3) a student self-reports their positive test.
  • The UT Austin Contact Tracing Team reaches out to the student’s close and primary contacts, asks them to quarantine and provides them with testing. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention defines a close and primary contact as anyone who has spent more than 15 minutes at less than six feet away from the person who has tested positive.  
  • As an additional measure, University Housing and Dining (UHD) reaches out to students in the wing or floor, depending on the size of the building, and notifies them about the positive case. These people could be secondary or casual contacts who may have had a brief or passing exposure not consistent with a close and primary contact. These contacts are advised to self-monitor and are encouraged to get tested through the UT Proactive Community Testing program. If more than one student on a wing or floor receives a positive test result within five days of each other, students will not be sent an additional notification. If a student on a wing or floor receives a positive test result after five days since the last notification, UHD will send out another notification.
  • Students residing in University Apartments will not receive casual contact notifications since individual units have exterior doors and no shared hallways.
  • The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, whose guidance the university follows, has no recommendation to notify the entire residence hall, and communicating a positive case to an entire residence hall, when increased risk of transmission is unlikely. Our current approach is based on current public health guidance and principles of transmission. For example, if a resident on the first floor contracted the virus, someone on the third floor would have no greater risk than they would in all other areas of their life.
• If my roommate tests positive, how do I get my room disinfected?
  
  • University Health Services will contact the roommate of a student who tests positive and ask if they want their room disinfected, or the roommate can directly inform their resident assistant or front desk if they want their room disinfected.
  • We will coordinate with the resident, temporarily moving them to another room if needed, while their room is being cleaned.
  • The room will be cleaned using an electrostatic sprayer. This includes all furniture, mattresses, floors, walls and closet area.
• What steps are being taken for students’ health and safety?
  
  • Students were asked to sign an amendment to the University Housing and Dining Terms and Conditions prior to moving in agreeing to expectations around health and safety including wearing recommended protective face masks and social distancing.
  • University Housing and Dining is implementing policies and practices in alignment with the university’s health and safety guidelines. Facilities staff is taking precautions to ensure staff have appropriate personal protective equipment prior to working on the floors and entering student rooms to perform work.
• How are the shared facilities being cleaned?
  
  • Our facilities staff are cleaning and disinfecting daily. All high touch areas, such as door handles, faucet handles, flush handles, elevator buttons and drinking fountains are disinfected a minimum of three times daily. All study area furniture and table tops are disinfected a minimum of two times daily.
• Will students be required to wear protective face masks in the residence halls and dining venues?
  
  • Students will be required to wear a recommended protective face mask anytime they are outside of their room in the residence halls or dining facilities.
  • Students will also be required to wear a recommended protective face mask when requested by staff who may need to enter student rooms for routine maintenance, an issue of safety or policy enforcement.
• How will University Housing and Dining enforce social distancing and wearing protective face masks?
  
  • Students who do not comply with the university’s Institutional Rules or University Housing and Dining policies may be referred to Student Conduct and Academic Integrity in the Office of the Dean of Students for further action.
• What steps are being taken to ensure staff members are staying healthy and following guidelines?
  
  • University Housing and Dining is implementing policies and practices in alignment with University health and wellness guidelines.
• How does social distancing work in community bathrooms?
  
  • Students should follow all posted guidelines and wear their recommended protective face mask except for when showering, brushing their teeth, washing their face, applying make-up or shaving.
  • Plexiglass dividers have been placed between sinks in community bathrooms.
  • All showers are single-occupant facilities.
• Are there guidelines for social distancing in elevators or other small spaces?
  
  • Guidelines are posted for these spaces. Students should follow all posted guidelines in elevators and other public spaces. Students who live on lower floors are encouraged to take the stairs, if able.
• Will study lounges and spaces be monitored for social distancing?
  
  • Furniture in study lounges and other spaces are arranged to facilitate social distancing. Moving of furniture is prohibited.
  • Students who do not comply with the university’s Institutional Rules or University Housing and Dining policies may be referred to Student Conduct and Academic Integrity in the Office of the Dean of Students for further action.
• Will I be allowed to have guests in my room?
  
  • Guests are not permitted in University Housing and Dining facilities at any time until further notice.
• What is the COVID-19 amendment?
  
  • Students are asked to sign an amendment to the University Housing and Dining Terms and Conditions prior to moving in agreeing to expectations around health, safety and social distancing.
• After I have moved in, what do I do if I think I might have COVID-19?
  
  • Students who are concerned they have COVID-19 should immediately contact University Health Services (UHS). Students can contact the UHS Nurse Advise Line 24/7 at (512) 475-6877 to find out any necessary next steps.
  • For more information about COVID-19, visit the UHS website.
• If I test positive for COVID-19, can I stay in the residence halls?
  
  • Student Emergency Services (SES) will work directly with students who test positive to identify the best option for them. Our staff will connect the student with SES. The University has a partnership with the Travis County Isolation Facility for students who do not have another option to isolate.

Resident Opportunities

• How can residents get involved in the residence hall community?
  
  • The University Housing and Dining Residence Life staff is working hard to provide residents with a variety of engagement opportunities. Staff are preparing virtual community building and individual opportunities to make sure residents feel connected to the UT campus and to each other. Additionally, in-person activities may be conducted in alignment with university health and safety guidelines, including small group and outside activities.
  • Each resident is assigned a resident assistant (RA) who can help students find ways to be involved in the halls and on campus.
  • The Residence Hall Programming Team (RHPT) helps foster community for the residents with peer-planned events. Residents will be informed about events via social media, posters and marketing materials in the halls. Residents are encouraged to follow utrhpt on Instagram to learn more about upcoming events.
  • The University Residence Hall Association represents all residence halls on campus, and each individual residence hall has its own Residence Hall Council. These leadership organizations advocate for the students of their halls and provide engagement opportunities for residents.

Dining

• How does a student living in the residence halls get food if they need to self-quarantine?
  
  • Residents who are in quarantine can pick up food from the dining venues.
  • Residents can also pre-order a meal with our Resident Meal Request program and designate someone to pick up the meal for them.
  • If a resident tests positive for COVID-19, Student Emergency Services (SES) will work directly with student to identify the best option for them. The University has a partnership with the Travis County Isolation Facility for students who do not have another option to isolate.
• How does dining on campus work with the resident unlimited meal plan?
  
  • Residents can use their unlimited meal plan as many times a day as they choose but must wait a one-hour grace period between visits.
  • They have a choice of serving line at Jester 2nd Floor (J2) and Kins Dining, where they can select an entrée, two sides, soup, salad, dessert and a bottled beverage.
  • Residents can swipe themselves in or use the hand scanner for contactless dining access. All transactions are cashless. Learn more about our hand scanner program with this video.
  • Residents also receive $300 Dine In Dollars per semester and $200 in Bevo Pay funds to spend at Jesta’ Pizza and our convenience stores and coffee shops.
• How are dining operations supporting the health and safety of the UT Austin community?
  
  • Patrons are encouraged to maintain social distancing with 6-foot distance markers and follow traffic flow with signage and barriers.
  • We have occupancy tracking measures in our dining facilities and digitally display our current occupancy levels to ensure appropriate social distancing. View the live occupancy status of our dining locations with the links on this page.
  • Staff are wearing recommended protective face masks at all times and patrons must wear a face mask unless eating
  • Hand washing stations are set up at the entrances of the dining locations.
  • Hand sanitizing stations are available throughout the serving and seating areas.
  • There are sneeze guards or clear barriers between patrons and dining staff at cash registers and all serving lines.
  • All food, condiments and beverages are served by staff in to-go containers. There is no self-service.
  • Napkins and dining utensils have touchless dispensers.
  • Please watch this video to learn more about our fall semester dining operations.
• Can I see the menus before entering the dining locations?
  
  • We encourage patrons to view the online menu before visiting the dining locations and make their selection.
  • Patrons will select which line they want to go to and choose their entrée and sides. They can make selections from the soup, salad and dessert line. They will also be able to pick a bottled beverage. Patrons may take their meals to go or wait to enter the seating area.
• What if I have a dietary concern?
  
  • We believe that menu transparency is an important part of the dining experience, especially for those who follow a specific diet plan. Our online menu provides nutrition facts, ingredients and allergen information in addition to weekly menus.
  • It is recommended that all students with a dietary concern speak with one of our registered dietitians at dietitian@austin.utexas.edu for guidance and support managing their diet while on campus.
• Can I get my meals to go?
  
  • All meals are served in disposable to go containers, including disposable utensils.
  • Patrons have the option to take out their meals or enter a different line to a seating area.
• What are my dining options on campus?
  
  • Please visit our dining page to view locations, menus and hours of operation.
• What are the late night dining options?
  
  • Jesta’ Pizza serves pizza and quick bites until 1 a.m.
  • Visit our hours page for up-to-date service hours.
• Is there a way to track how busy the dining halls are at any time?
  
  • At the entrance of each location there is a monitor tracking the number of patrons entering and leaving the serving and seating areas to ensure appropriate social distancing.
  • You can view the live occupancy status of our dining locations with the links on this page to help you plan ahead. Please note: you will need to refresh/reload your browser page to see real-time occupancy statuses.
• Has dining reduced the amount of available seating in dining halls?
  
  • The seating area capacity is reduced to allow for tables to be set up six feet apart with one person per table. Moving the furniture is prohibited.
  • Due to the limited availability of seating in the dining area, we ask that students only eat in this area and study elsewhere.
• How will these dining changes impact the Eco2Go program?
  
  • Since no reusable containers are allowed due to health and safety precautions the Eco2Go program is temporarily suspended.
• How do residents register for the hand scanner program to get contactless dining access?
  
  • Residents can register for our hand scanner program for contactless dining access whenever we hold hand scanner enrollment. We will post more details on our social media accounts when we have upcoming dates.
  • Watch this video for more details about the program.
• Are meal plans available to students who live off campus, faculty and staff?
  
  • Students living off campus, faculty and staff can sign up for our Commuter Meal Plan and enjoy hot meals at the dining halls plus an additional $50 flex dollars to spend at on-campus restaurants, coffee shops and convenience stores. View the three Commuter Meal Plan options and sign up here.
  • Faculty and staff can also sign up for Dine In Dollars. Learn more here.
• Will dining facilities be accepting cards and cash to purchase food and beverages?
  
  • All of our dining facilities are cashless. We accept debit and credit cards, Bevo Pay, Dine In Dollars and meal plan swipes.